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Living with Lissencephaly type 3-metacarpal bone dysplasia syndrome

A rare inherited condition with a very small head, brain differences, facial differences, and changes in hand bones, noticed before or at birth.

Understanding Lissencephaly type 3-metacarpal bone dysplasia syndrome

Lissencephaly type 3-metacarpal bone dysplasia syndrome is a rare inherited condition with severe brain and bone differences.

It is marked by a very small head, a smooth brain surface, a missing corpus callosum, a small cerebellum, facial differences, and speckled changes in the hand bones (epiphyseal stippling). GARD says it may be a variant of Neu-Laxova syndrome. It is noticed during pregnancy or at birth.

Signs & symptoms

Symptoms vary from person to person. GARD lists these among the most common:

  • Very small head (microcephaly)
  • Extra amniotic fluid (polyhydramnios)
  • Slow growth before birth
  • Joint contractures (arthrogryposis)
  • Clubfeet
  • Changes in bone structure

Not everyone has every symptom. GARD's list comes from the Human Phenotype Ontology.

Diagnosis

  1. Talk with your doctor

    Share the symptoms you've noticed, when they started and your family health history. Notes and photos can help.

  2. See a specialist

    Specialists who may be involved include brain and nervous system specialists, genetic specialists and seizure and epilepsy specialists.

  3. Ask which tests can help

    Your care team will decide which exams and tests can confirm the diagnosis.

  4. Connect with expert centers

    Epilepsy Foundation may keep lists of experts for this condition.

Care & treatment

Care team
Brain and nervous system specialists (neurologists); Genetic specialists (geneticists); Seizure and epilepsy specialists (epileptologist)
Expert care
Expert lists: Epilepsy Foundation
Treatment
GARD doesn't list specific treatments for this condition. Your care team will tailor care to your symptoms.
Research
Clinical trials and observational studies may be options. See the research section below.

General information, not medical advice. Your care team makes the decisions.

Everyday life

Living with a rare condition is easier with support.

  • Connect with Epilepsy Foundation
  • Keep notes on symptoms, changes and questions for appointments
  • Ask about patient registries that help research
  • Look into financial aid and travel resources for care visits
Bring these questions to your next doctor visit
Would genetic testing help find the cause?
What can prenatal ultrasound show?
What genetic counseling is available for future pregnancies?

Quick facts

Symptoms usually startduring Pregnancy and as a Newborn
InheritanceAutosomal Recessive

It is passed on in an autosomal recessive way, which means a child inherits a changed copy of the gene from each parent. GARD does not name a gene.

GeneticNeurological

Also known as: lissencephaly type iii and bone dysplasia

Patient organizations

Broader rare-disease groups

Source: NIH GARD · Lissencephaly type 3-metacarpal bone dysplasia syndromeGARD ID 16763 · GARD page updated September 2026 · Plain-language summary by Know Rare; editorial review pending. General information, not medical advice.

You are more than your diagnosis

Perspectives from people navigating life with Lissencephaly type 3-metacarpal bone dysplasia syndrome.

Explore the Lissencephaly type 3-metacarpal bone dysplasia syndrome blog

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